The discourse on the fifth wave and the spread of the omicron is causing economic damage among the owners of the ballrooms.
These show that there has been a significant drop in event bookings for spring and summer.
Noam Levy, chairman of the Association of Owners of Halls and Event Gardens, says that "at the moment there are not so many events in the winter.
This is the period when people book events for the summer, and now there is a 25% -20% drop in bookings because people are afraid of the Omicron and Fifth Sickle.
"Those who have already closed the event are holding it, but those who have not closed prefer to wait."
"We are very afraid of it because it affects us very badly. At the moment there is no work because of the winter, and also because of the corona and omicron and because of the threat that the morbidity will rise at a great rate. No one wants to book an event for another month.
Also, the events that are taking place now have a decrease of about 25% in the number of guests, and these are mainly adults.
We need to be given specific assistance during this difficult time.
We have a damage of almost 80% decrease in turnover this three months. "
David Gadzh, chef and owner's representative at Gaia, the event garden at Beit Oved Junction, paints a similar picture.
"In July-September there were 14,000 infected a day. There were no cancellations but it ended all the event gardens this winter," he explains, "People close events half a year ahead. If there is a fifth wave, we are preparing for one meeting in the evening instead of 15 meetings.
People are arranging a meeting, and following the 21:00 press conferences they decide not to come and wait for the wave to pass.
The Delta strain has ruined our winter, and the fifth wave is going to ruin our summer. "
"Fewer people come"
Avi Ben Hamu, CEO and owner of the "Troy" event garden in Bnei Darom, says that "there is now a decline in events, but I do not know whether to attribute it to winter or to fear the Omicron.
However, there are fewer people attending events, but this is still not significant.
This is a 10% drop, which may also be due to weather.
Of course, all the owners of the halls are afraid of a fifth wave, even without a closure, but of one that will include a reduction in crowds. "
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